Washington, DC -- Eight high school musicians from the far corners of the United States will descend on Washington, D.C., this Saturday, Feb. 22, for the opportunity to win the Marine Band’s 2020 Concerto Competition, and a $2,500 scholarship courtesy of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.
This year the finalists have been chosen from a pool of more than 100 applicants based on their musical talent. In this public performance, the students will play their prepared concertos before a panel of judges consisting of Marine Band Director Col. Jason K. Fettig, Assistant Directors Maj. Ryan J. Nowlin and Capt. Bryan P. Sherlock, and guest adjudicator Dr. Christopher M. Cicconi, currently Director of Bands and Orchestras and Assistant Professor of Music Education at Towson University.
This 2 p.m. (EST) performance is free and open to the public and will be streamed live at both www.marineband.marines.mil and www.youtube.com/usmarineband.
Let’s meet the musicians:
Jake Alford
Tuba player Jake Alford is a junior at Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan. Most recently, Alford was selected to perform with the National Youth Orchestra on its 2020 summer tour. In 2019 he performed as principal in the Honor Orchestra of America, Kentucky All-State Symphonic Band, and University of Kentucky High School Honor Wind Ensemble. From 2017 to 2019, he was principal for the Central Kentucky Youth Symphony Orchestra, and in 2018 and 2019 he was principal in the District 7 Symphony Honor Band. In 2018 he was also principal in the Honor Band of America and Kentucky All-State Symphony Orchestra.
Addison Bosch
Trumpet player Addison Bosch is a junior at Volcano Vista High School in Albuquerque, N.M. where he performs with the symphonic band, jazz band, and marching band. In addition, Bosch is a member of the Albuquerque Youth Symphony and the New Mexico All-State Workshop Honor Band, and has performed as first chair in the New Mexico All-State, Jazz All-State, and Southwest Honor Bands. Bosch currently studies under Brynn Marchiando, principal trumpet player of the Santa Fe Symphony and associate principal trumpet of the New Mexico Philharmonic. After high school he plans to further his studies in trumpet performance at the University of New Mexico.
Will Cole
Trombonist Will Cole is a junior at Mount Ida High School in Arkansas. In 2019, Cole performed as first chair in the All-Region First Band and second chair with the All-State First Band, as well as with the Arkansas Symphony Academy Orchestra. Cole also held first and second chair positions in the 2016 and 2017 and All-Region First Band and Jazz Band. From 2017 to 2019, he performed with the First Division Solo & Ensemble Region II.
Caleb Hutchings
Bassoonist Caleb Hutchings is a senior at South Medford High School in Oregon. Hutchings was principal bassoon of the All-Northwest Orchestra in 2019, and won the Rogue Valley Symphonic Band Concerto Competition that same year. In 2018 he won the Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon Concerto Competition, and in 2017, was awarded second place for the State Solo Contest.
Nicholas Ivy
French horn player Nicholas Ivy is a sophomore at Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg, Fla. Ivy has performed as first chair in both the Florida All-State Concert Band as well as the Florida All-State Concert Orchestra. He has also played with the Pinellas Youth Symphony in Florida and Kinhaven Symphony Orchestra in Vermont. Ivy is a student of Carolyn Wahl, and plans to pursue horn performance after high school.
Aaron Lipsky
Clarinetist Aaron Lipsky is a junior at A.C. Reynolds High School in Asheville, N.C. In 2019 he won both the Asheville Symphony and Hendersonville Symphony Concerto Competitions. Lipsky is currently a student of Steve Loew, former clarinetist for “The President’s Own.”
Austin Shilling
Alto Saxophonist Austin Shilling is a junior at the Texas Academy of Math and Science in Denton, Texas. In 2020 he was named grand prize winner of the Juanita Miller Concerto Competition. In 2019, Shilling performed with the Texas 5A All-State Band and won the Houston Underground Solo Competition.
Faith Shim
Flutist Faith Shim is a junior at Bergen County Technical High School in Teterboro, N.J. In 2019 she performed with the All-State Symphonic Band, New Jersey Regional High School Wind Ensemble, and the Bergen County Band. Shim has also placed in a number of competitions. In 2020, she was a merit winner in the YoungArts National Art Competition; in 2019, the Camerata Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition (First), “Salzburg” Grand Prize Virtuoso (First), and the New Jersey Wind Symphony Youth Soloist Competition (Second); In 2018, the Elite International Competition (First) and the Friday Woodmere Music Club Competition (Second); and in 2017, the New York Flute Club's Young Musicians Contest (First), Flute Society of Kentucky Junior Soloist Competition (First), and Camerata Artists International Competition (Second).
The John Philip Sousa Band Hall is located at 1053 7th Street in southeast Washington, D.C. Free parking is available in the lot under the overpass on 7th Street. Patrons should arrive early to allow extra time for ID checks at the gate.
Program
Directions and Parking